The NOAA Marine Debris Program and our partners – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Sea Grant, and the Ohio State University Stone Laboratory – are pleased to announce the winners of the first annual “Communicating for a Clean Future” Marine Debris Public Service Announcement Competition!
The competition was open to students in grades 9 through 12 from Ohio’s 9th Congressional District. After learning about the issue of marine debris in the ocean and Great Lakes through lessons and school activities, students were challenged to develop innovative public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at inspiring others to take action to prevent and reduce marine debris. This competition not only worked to engage students and to spread the message about marine debris, but empowered students to become leaders in their communities in the fight against it.
We received many impressive entries from high school students across Northern Ohio and are excited to share this year’s first, second, and third place winners with you:
By: Alyssa Viengmany
School: Clay High School, Oregon, Ohio
Teacher: Mr. Joe Carstensen
By: Ashley Kaufman, Madison Leffler, Olivia Schaefer, Hannah Schoen, and Abby Singler
School: Perkins High School, Sandusky, Ohio
Teacher: Ms. Ashlie Gowitzka
Third PlaceBy: Natalie Barendt, Faith Cole, Joslyn Muniz, Spencer Nezovich, Esther Ngemba, Jadalise Pacheco, Stephanie Rolon, Grace Semon, and Margaret Sweeney
School: Saint Joseph Academy, Cleveland, Ohio
Teacher: Ms. Mary Ellen Scott
Today the winners joined Congresswoman Kaptur, Ohio Sea Grant, the Ohio State University Stone Laboratory, and the NOAA Marine Debris Program to receive acknowledgement at the Cedar Point Physics, Science, and Math Week.
Based on the success of this year’s competition, the NOAA Marine Debris Program and our partners plan to hold the “Communicating for a Clean Future” Public Service Announcement Competition again next year and to expand it to include high schools in additional coastal districts in Ohio.